12 STEP SEXUAL RECOVERY MEETINGS

In the New York area, there are many resources for those with sexual addiction. The fellowships listed below are modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in the 1930s by a stock broker, Bill Wilson, and a prominent surgeon, “Dr. Bob”. Both men made many attempts to end their drinking and failed. They discovered that by helping other alcoholics, their own drinking was arrested. Out of this awareness, they formed support groups starting in Akron, Ohio and New York City developing a specific program of recovery, the 12 steps.

In the 1970s and 1980s, a group of Alcoholics Anonymous members realized they were struggling with sex addiction and decided to form a group for recovering sex addicts using the Alcoholics Anonymous model. Since that time, many different groups have emerged, and today there are numerous such groups in the New York City area. The benefits to attending meetings are incalculable.

Below are a list of meetings on the local and national level. The descriptions are the prembles taken from their sites.“Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) is a Twelve Step – Twelve Tradition oriented fellowship based on the model pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous. One of the resources we draw on is our willingness to stop acting out in our own personal bottom line addictive behavior on a daily basis. In addition, members reach out to others in the fellowship, practice the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of S.L.A.A. and seek a relationship with a higher power to counter the destructive consequences of one or more addictive behaviors related to sex addiction, love addiction, dependency on romantic attachments, emotional dependency, and sexual, social and emotional anorexia. We find a common denominator in our obsessive, compulsive patterns which renders any personal differences of sexual or gender orientation irrelevant.” Go to site>>“Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) is a 12-step recovery program. Our primary goal is to stop our addictive sexual behavior and to help others recover from their sexual addiction. Our members define their own boundaries with the guidance of their Higher Power, sponsors and other group members. We encourage our members to discover and explore what healthy sexuality means to them. Membership is open to all who share a desire to stop addictive sexual behavior. There is no other requirement. SAA is supported through voluntary contributions from members. We are not affiliated with any other 12-step programs, nor are we a part of any other organization. We do not support, endorse, or oppose outside causes or issues.” Go to site>>“Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA) is a 12-step fellowship, inclusive of all sexual orientations, open to anyone with a desire to recover from sexual compulsion. We are not group therapy, but a spiritual program that provides a safe environment for working on problems of sexual addiction and sexual sobriety. We believe we are not meant to repress our God-given sexuality, but to learn how to express it in ways that will not make unreasonable demands on our time and energy, place us in legal jeopardy, or endanger our mental, physical or spiritual health. Members are encouraged to develop a sexual recovery plan, defining sexual sobriety for themselves. There are no requirements for admission to our meetings: anyone having difficulties with sexual compulsion is welcome.” Go to site>>“Sexaholics’s Anonymous (SA) is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover. Our primary purpose is to stay sexually sober and help others to achieve sexual sobriety. In defining sobriety, we do not speak for those outside Sexaholics Anonymous. We can only speak for ourselves. Thus, for the married sexaholics, sexual sobriety means having no form of sex with self or with persons other than the spouse. For the unmarried sexaholic, sexual sobriety means freedom from sex of any kind. And for all of us, single and married alike, sexual sobriety includes progressive victory over lust.” Go to site>>“Sexual Recovery Anonymous (SRA) is a l2-step fellowship. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop compulsive sexual behavior. Our primary purpose is to stay sexually sober and help others achieve sobriety. Sobriety is the release from all compulsive and destructive sexual behaviors. We have found through our experience that sobriety includes freedom from masturbation and from sex outside a mutually committed relationship. We believe that spirituality and self-love are antidotes to the addiction.” Go to site>>

Self Help Groups

Look at the various national support groups for sexual addiction. Links to websites.More>>

Suggested Reading

Comprehensive reading list of books and articles for addicts and family members.More>>

Treatment Centers and Other Important Links

A list of national inpatient and outpatient treatment centers for sexual addictioin.More>>